Electric swtich.



A. E. READ. ELECTRIC SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED luLYzl. 19H.

Patented Oct. 1, 1918.

FgvJn/S 2 g INVENTOR.

flwt w BY %n// ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE. f

j An'rn'UR E. READ, or NEW YORK, Y.

ELEoTR'Io SWITCH.

Application filed'iuly 21, 1917. Serial no. 181,955.

To'aZZ whom it may cantata.-

' a citizen of the United States, and a rest dent of the borough of Manhattan, city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a specification.

Themain object of my invention is the production of a simple, compact, inexpensive but durable and efficient electric switch of the one-push-button type,;'one in which I electrical contact is made and broken instantaneously with a snap which obviates sparking and injury to the terminals,- the burning out of terminals being the main cause of defect and failure in most electrical switches of this class. I

The invention consists in the Specific con struction and arrangement of parts described and claimed,' -distinctive features being the shape of the base core and the formation and assemblin of the several opc-rative parts as hereina ter fully set forth. In the accompanying drawings, for con venience'of illustration, the parts are shown e k I shoulder b, is the same width as the thick Y on a scale approximately twice "as large as the model, or as made for commercial purposes. In other words the actual deviceoccupies only one-fourth of the space indicated in the drawings, so as'to adapt it for use on automobiles and other situations where available space is restricted'to a mini mum.

Figure 1, is a sectional elevation showing myelectric switch installed on a suitablefixed support, 7 V

Fig. 2, is a perspective view of the internal operativeparts with the casing and push button indicated in dotted lines, and the core or base broken away and in partial section; 1 1. r

Fig. 3, is an elevation of the base core without the shell and showing thefends of the duplex spring terminal as brokehaway and the circuit closerblade in open position' f l I Fig. 4:, is a transverse section taken upon plane of line H, Figs. 1, and 3';

Fig. 5, is a perspective view of the rotatable circuitcloser; a

Fig. 6, is a perspective View of the spring pawl member by which the rotatable circuitcloser is actuated; 1 h

Fig. 7, is a transverse section ofthe shank Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 1, 1918.

I of said spring pawl, taken'on theme in-:

dicated by the arrow/7, F ig. 6;

Fig. 8,'is a, perspective view of or bifurcated terminal; I p I Fig. 9, is a perspective view of the push button;

Fig. 10, is a diagrammatic view illustrat ing the operation of the rotatable contact member or. circuit closer. Fig. 11, is an elevation of the base-core broken away medially, and taken at right angles to Fig. 3. V p

The base core B, is essentially cylindrical in general configuration, being formed witha central compartment 1), in which the, terminals C, C, and rotatable circuit closer D9 a e positioned, and with an annular the other I shoulder 72', against which the inner edge 8,

of the shell S, abuts, and also with a transverse base flange or partition 6 which acts as a barrier between the terminal connections to prevent accidental cross-'circuiting, etc. That is to say the flan'ge b p'r'ei vents" a metallic tool or other" extraneous metallic body from contacting with both binding screws e, a, at the same time. The

ness of the shell S, so thatthe j oint' between the latter andt'h'e base core B, is flush exsuch simple form that it may be conveniently moldedor cast in quantities at relatively I 7 small cost,its configuration adapting it to being readily drawn fromthe matrix, and calling for-little or no"? finishing To the floor of the compartment :6, of the base core B, are secured the circuit terminals C, C, by ,means of binding screws c, 0, passing through thebase core as shown in ,Fig. 1,. said binding screws 0, 0, being yse= cured in turn by binding nuts '0', 0,;and

lock nuts 0. c Ofthese, the binding nuts core B, so as to br n their outer sides sub- 0, 0, are preferably countersunk in the base stantially flush witht e outer end surface of said base, core, thereby economizmg space and protecting the binding nuts in their permanent setting against; disturbance 7 when, for instance, the terminal wires 0 0 are inserted and'clamp'ed between said bmding nuts c, c", and the lock nuts 1 0 0 I which insure an electrical contact between,

the parts;

medial base 0 with the opposed twin-spring jawsc, the free ends of which tend constantly to contact with each other,the extremities of said free ends of the twin jaws being flared or bent outward away from each other slightly to facilitate the intrusion between them of the circuit closer blade Z, into the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. f a

The other or bifurcated circuit terminal C, is also formed of a stri of sheet metal bent up to constitute the Ease c and the twin springs 0 the latter formed by the creation of the slot 0 between them for the accommodation of the circuit closer blade at, with which however, they do not contact but merely straddle when said circuit closer blade (Z, is in the position shown in solid lines in Figs. 1, and 2.

The rotatable circuit closer D, consists of the bridge or. contact blade d, and the ratchets d, d, secured thereto, one on each side thereof. The ratchets (2, cl, as well as the circuit closing blade d, are of metal, and each has four apices or teeth d coincident respectively, in the construction shown, with the longitudinal edges of the circuitcloser blade d, although this is not a material feature. The ratchets d, d, constitute essen tially the hub of the rotatable circuit closer D, and said hub being four-sided for engagement with the bifurcated spring terminal C, which also performs the function of a detent to hold said rotatable circuit closer D, stationary except when partially rotated by the depression of the spring pawl E.

The axial pin 03 on which the circuit closer rotates is supported in the side walls of the compartment 7), of the base-core B, and also serves to secure the ends of the straps e, e,'which straps form :the base of the spring ipawlE, and are seated 1n. axgroove,

6 formed for them in the base-core B, as

shown particularly in .Fi'gsl 3, and a, the

tion of the spring E, intermediate between said free end 6, and its basic straps e, e, is bent not only to form what may be designated as the shank 6 but also to form a bearing and support 6 for the inner side oi the push button P. The base core B, adj acent to the shank e of the spring pawl E, is

beveled oil? (as at 6 Figs. 1, 2, and 11) to admit of the free play of said shank 5?, when the spring pawl E, is depressed toturn the circuit closer D.

The outer end of the casing S, supports the push button P, against the thrust of the spring pawl E, and is formed with the opening s, for the protrusion of the finger bearing 19, of said push button P. The flange or body 29, snugly fits the interior of the casing S. S, is a fiat escutcheon plate that may be attached to the shield S, by a drive-fit to stabilize the device laterally and afford a finished external appearance, although this plateforms no part of my invention and may be omitted where available space is limited.

In order to economize space as much as possible, and reduce the diameter of the device to a minimum, I form the shank 6 of.

the spring pawl E, with a recess 0, to 'accommodate the ends of the closure blade d, when the latter is in either of its transverse positions as shown more particularly in Fig. 4:. The depression 01": the spring pawl E, is limited by the contact of its shoulders 6 6*, with shoulders [2 32*, on the base-core B. This prescribed inward thrust of the bifurcated free end 6, of the spring awl E, is just sufiicient to carry the teeth d d of the ratchets cl, cl, with which it is engaged only slightly beyond the axis d of the rotatable circuitcloser D, or over the dead center, when the spring terminal C, completes the one fourth rotation of the circuit closer, forcing itover until it contacts with the next succeeding fiat sides of the ratchets cl, d.

This action is exemplified diagrammatically in Fig; 10, in which the result of the thrust of the spring pawl E, is illustrated in dotted lines, and the completion of thequarter turn of the circuit closer is shown in solid lines, this being the normal position of the spring terminal C, as related to the ratchets (Z, (Z.

means of therotatable contact blade d,the

sudden (practically instantaneous) opening or closure of the circuit effected by the spring terminal C, effectually preventing sparking and consequent burning out of contacts. I

To insure positive insulation of the operative parts contained within the casing S, I provide the latter with an internal lining s interposed between said casing S, and the main portion of the base coreB, as shown in Fig. l, which prevents all possibility of short circuiting with said casing, or grounding therethrough.

Advantages attained by my construction I In other words, the spring pawl E, turns the circuit closer D, over, say L6 and the lasagna g I etc., ina 7 be stamped out fi oiii sheet metal,

' the. base=core conveniently molded" and drawn such quantities as topreduce the cost to a fi'action of a cent apiece; And-the internal side walls of the work compartment in the base core insulate and protectthe operative parts and' preserve their ali'rienient andcorr'eilatidn. v i

As designed for the trad the barrel or casing S, is only, say; three fourths'of an inch in diameter, so that in installing the device for instance on the dash or instrument board of an automobile, it is only necessary to drill a scaiit'tliree fourtli'sincli hole and then forcibly insert the barrel therein,the escu't'clieon S, beingused or omitted according to circumstances and conditions,- whereas in the case of ordinary switches of this class on the market tlie casing is usually square or oblong, necessitating. the making are square hole of recess which re quires the skill of a carpenter or some one familiar with the use of tools.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

1. An electric switch of the character designated, comprising a base-core of non-conducting material formed with a transverse central compartment, and with a medial peripheral groove, circuit terminals positioned in said central compartment, a rotatable circuit closer pivotally supported in and between the side walls of said compartment and between said terminals, a spring pawl, formed with base bands countersunk in said medial peripheral groove of the base-core and arranged to actuate said rotatable circuit closer, a push button contacting with said spring pawl, and a casing inclosing the said base core and operative parts and limiting the outward thrust of the push button, for the purpose described.

2. An electric switch of the character designated, comprising a base-core of non-conducting material formed with a transverse central compartment, and with a medial peripheral groove, circuit terminals positioned in said central compartment, a rotatable circuit closer pivotally supported in and between the side walls of said compartment and between said terminals, a spring pawl formed with base bands countersunk in said medial peripheral groove of the base-core and arranged to actuate said rotatable circuit closer, a push button contacting with said spring pawl, and a casing inclosing the said base-core and operative parts and limltto said medial peripheral groove to ac'com-.

for the purpose described.

3'. An electric .switch of the character designated, comprising a base-core of non-conducting material formed with a transverse central compartment, and with a medial peripheral groove, circuit terminals positioned in said central compartment, a rotatable circuit closer pivotally supported in and be tween the side walls of said compartment and between said terminals, a spring pawl formed with'base bands countersunk in said medialperipheral groove of the base-core and arranged to actuate said rotatable circuit closer, a pin extending diametrically through said core and securing the ends of the base bands of said spring pawl and formiiig the fulcrum for said rotatable circuit modate the shank of the said spring pawl,

closer, a pushbutton contacting with said spring pawl, and a casing inclosing the said base core and operative, parts and limiting the outward thrust of the push button, for the purpose described.

4. An electric switch of the character designated, comprising a base-core or non-conducting material formed with a transverse central compartment, circuit terminals positioned therein, a rotatable circuit closer pivotally supported in and between the side walls of said compartment and between said terminals, said circuit closer consisting of a contact blade with hub ratchets on either side thereof, a spring pawl arranged to actuate said rotatable circuit closer and formed with a bifurcated free end adapted to straddle said contact blade, a push button contacting with said spring pawl, and a casing inclosing the said base-core and operative parts and limiting the outward thrust of the push button, for the purpose described.

5. An electric switch of the character designated, comprising a base-core of nonconducting material formed with a transverse central department, circuit terminals positioned therein, a rotatable circuit closer pivotally supported in and between the side walls of said compartment and between said terminals, said circuit closer consisting of a contact blade with hub ratchets on either side thereof, a spring pawl arranged to actuate said rotatable circuit closer and formed with a bifurcated free end adapted to straddle said contact blade, and also formed with a recessed shank to accommodate said contact blade, a push button contacting with said spring pawl, and a casing inclosing the said base-core and operative parts and limiting the outward thrust of the push button, for the purpose described.

6. An electric switch of the character designated, comprising a base-core of nonconducting material formed witha trans,-

verse central compartment, circuit terminals positloned therein, one consisting of a strip of sheet metal bent up tov form opposed twin spring jaws and the other consisting of a bent strip of sheet metal formed with a bifurcated free end, a rotatable circuit closer pivot-ally supported in and between the side walls of said compartment and between said terminals, a spring pawl arranged to actuate said rotatable circuit closer, a push button contacting with said spring pawl, and a casing inclosing the said base-core and operative parts,and limiting the outward thrust of the push button.

7. An electric switch of the character desigl'iated, comprising a base-core of nonterminal detent springeontacts, a spring pawl arrangedtocontact with said ratchet and actuatezthe circuit closer, andvmeans for limiting the inwardthrust of said sprlngv furcated spring detent contacting with said I hub ratchets, a spring pawl engaging said hub ratchets and adapted to actuate the to tatable circuit closer, and means for stopping the inward thrust of said spring pawl after it has turned said rotatable circuit closer beyond 45, so that said bifurcated spring detent terminal will instantaneously open or close the electric circuit with a snap movement and thereby prevent sparking, for the purpose set forth.

.ARTHUR E. READ. Witnesses:

Gno. WM, Mm'r'r,

DOROTHY MIATT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). G. 

